Power pressing machine



May 1, 1928.

c. E. WARE AM ET AL POWER PRESSIYNG MACHINE Filed May 16. 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l vl m E 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 C E WAREAM ET AL POWER PRESSING MACHINE Filled May 16 1919 May 1, 1928.

May 1, 1928.

- c. E. WAREAM ET AL POWER PRES-SING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN 7A I more particularly relates machinesembodying two co-operat- 35 torender the power actuating means effec- Patented May 1, 1928.

' Y UNITED, STATES PATENT o IcE.

CHARLES E. WAREAM annenonen nlmnx,

manor AND masnn ASSIGNMENTS, or mAonmnnYcomrAn-Y, or noawoononro, A CORPORATION or 01110, AND ons- HALE TO UNITED STATES HOFFMAN 'IION' OF DELAWARE.

Application filed May 16,

This invention relates to garment pressing machines or, more generally, to machlnes. for pressing woven ,fabrics or for II'OIIlIIg articles of wearing apparel. The invention to that class of pressing ing relatively movable pressing members between which the work is pressed by pressure of the pressing members toward each other. Such presses are usually operated by hand or foot operated treadlesor levers connected by suitable mechanism to the movable pressing members. The degree of pressure se cured in such a machine is, of course, limited by the strength of the operator and the multiplication of power possible through-the arrangement -of connecting levers.

The present invention has for its object to rovide an improved pressing machine embodying a power attachment for securing heavy 'or increased pressure between the pressin members when desired, .and more particularly a power attachment actuated by fluid pressure and co-operatively related to the operating treadle or lever or other part of the operating mechanism for the movable pressing members.

A further object of'the invention is'to" provide a power attachment co-operatively so related to the actuating treadle of the machine and in connection therewith means for insuring closingof the press or locking of said treadle in its depressed position be fore it is possible to manipulate the controller.

.tive, so as to prevent application of power before the treadle is locked and avoid any possibility of the pressure treadle flying up and injuring the operator or any other pos- 40 sible damageto the machine or mechanism, thereby safe-guarding both the machine and the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pressure power attachment 4:; for garment presses which can be controlled from a position at or near the pressingmembers, and which is also co-operativelyrelated to the actuating treadle of the machine for automatic control thereby.

Further objects of the invention are in mg upper pressing member,

and its closing movement is OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, ONE-HALF TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY CORPORATION, A' COBPOBA- rowan. rnnssme MACHINE,

1919. Serial No. 297,467.

part obviousand in part will appear more in detail hereinafter. P

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.-

In the drawings, which represent one suit.-. able embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1,is a side elevation'showing the press closed; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View bf the control valve mechanism, the section being taken on the line 2- 2, Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View 'on the line" 3-3, Fig. .1, Fig.

is a front elevation-of the lower portion of the machine, the foot plate 9f the pressure 66 treadle being'oinitted for clearne ss of illustration; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on i the line 5'-5, Fig.1; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on approximately the line 6-6, Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of 70 a controlling device; Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 2-2, Fig. 5; and Fig.9 is a detail section on.the line 9 9, Fig.8.

The machine shown in the drawings com- I! prises a suitable frame havinga base 1 resting upon a suitable support and provided. with front and rear columns2 and 3 and a rearward lower extension 4. The front column supports the stationary lower press? ing member 5 which may be padded, as is usual, and which may also have self-adjusting turning movement about a horizontal axis 6, to accommodate itself to the descendas is customary in machines of this class. The rear column 3 supports an arm 7 swinging about the horizontal axis 8 and provided at its front end with the co-operating upper pressing member or head 9 to which are attached brackets 10. The rear end of said arm is provided. with a counter-weight 11 and may be connected by the tension spring'or springs 12 to a stationary support. The counterweight and springs tend to open the pre 05 roduced by the operating mechanism'to be escribed.

f 13 indicates the actuating treadle' provided with the usual foot late 14, said treadle being pivoted near the ack' of the machine 1 at the point in a manner presently to be described. This treadle is provided with an anti-friction'member, such as a roller 16 which works across a cam surface 17 on one arm 18 of a; lever pivoted at 19in the stationary frame, the other arm 20 of'said" lever having an anti-friction member such as a roller 21 which travels in front of and along'a cam surface 22 on a downwardly extending portion 23 of the arm 7. In the open position of the'pressthe rollers 16.

- Arm 20 may be. provided with an extension 24 having :nroller 25 traveling behind and along a second cam 26 on the depending arm portion 23, which ties the arms 20 and 23 together and prevents lost motion therebetween.

Suitable mechanism is provided'for locking the press in closed position. The mechanism shown comprises a locking hook 2t pivoted upon an arm 28 extendmg laterally from one side of the main treadle and havin a hooked lower end portion 29 adapted when the press is closed to swing beneath a stationary should erj'or abutment'30 of the mam frame, as shown in Fig. 4, and thereby prevent upward movement of the operating treadle and the mechanism connected there to. To release the lock the press is provided with suitable bearings for a cross shaft 31' to one end of which is connected -a release treadle 32, and to'which shaft is alsoconnected an arm 33 having a portion lying beneath a projection 34 extending laterally from the'locking member 27; 31 represents a counterweight for the release treadlc.

The power attachment for the present machine comprises. a fluid pressure cylinder which actuates a piston connected to a part of the o 'icratingmechanism for the movable head, and 1nore particularly the main actuatingtread-le, As illustrated the pressure cylinder 35 mounted upon-a bracket 36 supported by the rear extension 4 of the main' frame' In said cylinder is a piston 37 whose rod ,38 is rigidly connected to a cross head 39 having sleeve portions 39 -slidable upon stationary guide rods 41 carried by the bracket 36. To thecross head 39 is pivotal.- ly connected the rear end of the treadle 13 by the pivot pin 15, before referred to.,

When the treadle is fully depressed and locked as before described it lies substantially in a straight line coincident with the axis ofthe piston rod 38, as shown in Fig. 6.

Consequently movement of the piston 37 to a lever pivoted at 54 to a the right in'Fig. 6 advances the treadle 13 and produces additional pressure of the anti-friction roller 16 against the arm 18 of the intermediate lever, the power pressure thus produced being transmitted through such lever to the .arm 27 and thence to the movable head, but such movement is not 1 source of fluid pressure, such as steam, compressed air, or the-like, a pressure chamber 43 communicating through the pipe 44 with the chamber 45 of the ressure cylinder behind its piston 37, an an outlet chamber chamber, (not shown) as desired, 42 represents a suitable valve for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the inlet chamber. Between the chambers 40 and 43 is a. port 48 surrounding which is a valve seat for the controlling valve 49 lying in the inlet chamber 40 and'normally held "to its seat by a compression spring 50, said valve being provided with a stem 51 sliding through a packing 52 and pivotally con-.

nected at its upper end to one arm 53 of stationary part of the frame. Communication between the chambers 43 and 46 is through a port 55 controlled by a valve 56 in the chamber 43 held downwardly to its seat by the pressure spring 57 and the upper. end of whose stem is pivotally connected to a second arm 58 of the lever before referred to. Said lever has a downwardly extending arm 59 provided with a bifurcated lower end pivotally connected 'to' a collar 60 slidable upon a rod 61 between two compression springs 62 surrounding said rod, and each of which springs at its opposite end bears againstra collar 63 adjustablysecured in suitable position on said rod by the set screw 64. Rod 61 is pivotally connected to a depending arm of a three armed lever 65, one of whosearms is connected by a link 66 to a bell crank lever 67 pivoted on the frame, the opposite arm of said lever being connected to a sleeve '68 sliding on 'a rod 69 andrlyingin front of a c0llar70 adjustably secured thereon by the set screw 71.- ,Rod 69 is pivotally connected at its front end to'an arm 72 on a shaft 73 turning in the brackets 10, said shaft being provided with an operating handle74.

Another armoflever 65 is connected by" the stationary frame, said lever havinga.

, a link 75 with a lever 76 pivoted a 77 m as i 46 communicating through the pipe 47 with an exhaust to the open air or to a condensing The first named arm of the lever 65 to which the link 61 is connected has pivotally connected thereto a plunger 80 working in an opening in the side of a hollow casing 81 through which slides a vertically-extending rod'82 having a horizontal opening 83 therein., Hollow casing 81 is rigidly supported on the side of the frame and beneath the same is a compression spring 84 surrounding rod 82 and lying above a collar 85 adjustably secured to the rod 82 by the set screw 86. Rod'82 at its lower end is pivotally connected to one arm of a lever 87 pivoted at88 to the stationary frame and havin a front arm 89 lying beneath an extende portion of the arm 28 carried by the treadle 13 and which supports the looking member 27, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The operation is as follows: The ordinary operation has already been described. To briefly repeat, depressing the foot treadle 13 swings the head downwardly a ainst the bed until the press is locked the locking member 27. It may be released at any time by depression of the resuch usual operation of the press.

lease treadle 32. The press can be used in this way for certain classes of work without resort to the power mechanism and said power mechanism nterferes in no way with If, however, a certain class of work demands heavy pressure the power attachment is, utilized. \Vhen the treadle is locked in its'lower position, as before referred to, the opening 83 in the slide rod 82 lies opposite the plunger 80. In this position, and in no other position, the controlling mechanism for the power attachment can'be actuated, because in all other positions a blank portion of the slide rod 82 lies opposite the plunger 80 and prevents motion of the lever in the clockwise direction, Fig. 1. Let us assume then that the press has been closed and locked by actuating treadle 13. In this position valve 49 is closed and valve 56 is open, as shown in Fig. 2. Chamber 45 of the pressure cylinder therefore communicates through pipe 44, chamber 43, and chamber 46 with the exhaust. By depressing handle 74 the collar is advanced against the sleeve .68 and turns the lever 65 in the clockwise direction, Fig. 1. Valve 49 is held to its seat by the pressure in the inlet chamber 40*. However, as the operating handle is depressed the spring 62 at the right in Fig. 1

' is compressed until finally its pressure exceeds the pressure in chamber 40", whereupon lever arm 59 is suddenly moved to the left in Fig. 1, thereby opening valve 49and at the same time closing valve 56. Pressure.

' flows from chamber 40- into the cylinder and moves the piston to the right in Fig. 6, thereby applying additional heavy pressure to the pressing members. The valves remain thereupon retract the piston and treadle to their original positions. -"lhe second-portion of the downward motion of the release treadle brings the lever arm 33 into co-operative relation with the extension '34 of the treadle lock and turns said lock, thereby unlocking the machine and allowing the head to rise from the bed as is usual.

The apparatus described not only permits heavy fluid pressure to be applied to the pressing members but also prevents movement or manipulation of the controlling means for the power mechanism in a manner to cause application of power pressure until the press is closed and, indeed, is locked, so th t..ther'e is no p ssure either causing the treadle 13 to fly up and injure theoperator or in any other manner causing injury or damage either to the operator or any part of the mechanism.

The machine is therefore amply safeguarded but, nevertheless, is capable 0 use either asa man press wherein the working pressure is entirely. operator produced, or as a power press, wherein a power effect is secured, neither method of operation in any manner interfering with the other. Obviously the press is also safeguarded against. undesirable or dangerously premature production of power pressure, because the controller or controlling means for producing power pressure cannot be moved, manipulated or operate unless the head is so close to the bed that the operators 'fingers or arm could not possibly be between the head and bed or, at least, her fingers or arm would be slightly burned as a warning to remove them before applying power pressure.

What we claim is:

1. A pressing machine, comprising cooperating relatively'movable pressing members, an operator operated device and connections therefrom to one of said members for producing closing movement thereof. power danger of the application of ated thereby for additionally controlling said power means and for also restoring said controlling device to normal position.

2. A pressing machine, comprising a stationary. garment support, a cooperating mov- I able for c osing the head upon the support, power mechanism having connections effective upon said head to secure pressure additional to that produced by the operator, controlling means for said power mechanism, means for locking the press closed, and operator operated release means operatively connected to said locking means and to said controlling means to move the locking means to release position and the operator operated part of said controlling means to initial position upon operation of said release means.

3. A pressing machine, comprising a stationary' garment support, a cooperating pressing head adapted't-o be closed upon the work by the operator, power mechanism also pressing head, operator operated means.

effective upon said head to produce final pressure additional to that produced by the operator, controlling means for said power means operable by the operator independently of head movement, means for locking the press, closed, operator operated release.

means, and connections between said release means, locking means, and controlling means,

whereby upon operation of said release means the press is opened and the operator operated part of said controlling means is restored to initialposition.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures. 

